Folding or wardrobe bedstead



( No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1. P. MADDEN. FOLDING OR WARDROBEBEDSTEAD.

No. 360,894. Pate ntedApr. 12', 1887.

aanzW I .Z'hvezzZWx 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

P. MADDEN.

FOLDING 0R WARDROBE BEDSTEAD.

Patented Apia ,12, 1887'.

M MM 0* 74 171" neweo:

N. PETERS Flwlo-Lilhognphor. Washmgion, 1Q

UNITED STATES I PATENT OFFICE.

PATT MADDEN, or BURLINGTON, VERMONT.

FOLDING OR WARDROBE 'BE DSTEAD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 360.894, dated April 12, 1887. 7 Application filed January 13, 1887. Serial No. 224,227. (No model.) 7

To all whom, it .may concern.-

Be it known that I, Pn'rr MADDEN, of Burlington, in the State of Vermont, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Folding or Wardrobe Bedsteads and other Structures having Folding Frames, of which the following is a specification.

My'invention has been devised more particularly with reference to the needs of folding IO bedsteads in which the legs at the foot of the bedstead fold up against or in line with the bed-frame; and its object, primarily, is to prevent the bed-frame, after it is folded or turned up, from being lowered again until the legs 1 5 have been opened out or unfolded. To this end I combine with the folding bed-frame and the casinginto or against which it can be folded or turned a locking mechanism, which looks the folded bed-frame to the casing, and is connected with and operated by the folding legs in such manner that when the legs are unfolded oropened out they will operate to unlock or release the bed-frame from the casing. In this way the legs must be opened out before the bed-frame is released, and consequently the legs must be in position to support the bedframe when the latter is turned down in horizontal position before said bed-frame can be turned down at all. 7

Theinvention,while designed with more pa rticular reference to folding bed-frames, is also applicable to other folding frames which,when unfolded or turned down, require to be supported at their outer or free end by legs or Y 5 their equivalent.

The nature of my invention and the manner in which the same is or may be carried into effect can best be explained and understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in

40 which Figure 1 is a front elevation of a portion of a folding or turn-up frame and the casing therefor embodying my invention. In this figure the frame is turned up into the casing and the hinged leg or support for the outer or free end of the frame is also folded up. Fig. 2 isalike elevation with the leg or support spread out. Figs. 3 and 4 are end views of the parts in the. position they occupy, respectively, in Figs. 1 and 2, looking at the right-hand ends of the latter figures. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the parts of thelocking mechanism in the position they occupy in Fig. 1, with the casing, frame, &c., in dotted lines. Fig. Grepresents the device as applied to a folding bed. The bed is represented folded in full lines and unfolded in dotted lines.

In the drawings, A is the back, and B is one of the sides, of a casing'or cabinet of any convenient or desired construction.

0 is a frame typical of a bed-frame or other frame of any preferred construction, which at its head is jointed to the casing in suitable manner, this forming no part of my invention. In the drawings I have represented it as simply hinged to the casing at a, so that it may be folded up against the casing or turned down into horizontal position, as desired. To the free or outer endof thefolding frame is jointed or hinged the leg or support D, typical of the supporting-legs or bottom support of a bed or other frame. This support D can be folded up against the casing, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8, or can be turned out at right angles to the frame 0, as shown in Figs. 2 and 4..

Upon the folding frame is the sliding bolt E, and upon the side of the casing is the socket F, into which the bolt can be advanced when the frame is folded up against the casing, so as to lock the two together. Upon the frame is also pivoted, at I), the angle or elbow lever G. One end of this lever is forked to straddle the shank of the bolt, and works between lugs or shoulders c on said shank. The opposite end of the lever is provided with a loop, d, placed with relation to the shank of the lever, as indicated in Figs. 3, 4:, and 5. Through this loop passes a hook or staple, H, the legs'of which are made fast to the folding leg or support D. The bight of the hook or staple on which the loop works is straight.

The parts are so positioned that when the parts are in the position shown in Figs. 1, 3, and 5 the hook or staple will be at or near the rear end of the loop. WVhen thus located, the

support D is folded up, asis also the frame 0, v

and the staple has moved the elbow-lever in a direction to advance the sliding bolt into its socket, thus locking the frame to the casing. Under these conditions, in order to unlock the frame for the purpose of unfolding it or turning it down, the bolt must be withdrawn, and

loo

the frame.

to accomplish this it is necessary to turn the hinged support outward, so that it will stand in the position indicated in Figs. 2 and 4- that is to say, substantially at right angles with The support D, in thus moving, actuates, through the intermediary of the hook or staple H, the lever G to move in a direction to cause the bolt to slide backward or away from its socket, thus unlocking the frame,

which can then be turned down.

I have described the best way now known to me of carrying my invention into effect. It is manifest, however, that the structure of the intermediate mechanism or devices whereby the folding or hinged support D is caused to nying drawings, in illustration of my improvement; but

Vhat I claim herein as new and of my own invention is- 1. The combination of the casing, the folding or turn-up frame, the hinged or folding support for the outer or free end of said frame, and locking mechanism for said frame, eonneeted with and operated by said support at the times and in the manner substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

2. The combination of the casing, the folding frame, the hinged or folding support for the outer or free end of said frame, the sliding bolt and its socket, the angle-lever G, and the hook or staple H, these parts being constructed and arranged together for joint operation substantially as and for the purposes hereinbefore set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 27th day of December, A. D. 1886.

IATT MADDEN.

Witnesses:

Gno. \V. WALns, A. A. MARTIN. 

